The DVD Forum is an international organization composed of hardware, software, media and content companies that use and develop the DVD and HD DVD formats. It was initially known as the DVD Consortium when it was founded in 1995.

Mission

The DVD Forum was created to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas about the DVD format, and to enable it to grow through technical improvement and innovation. The organization hopes to promote worldwide acceptance of DVD for entertainment, consumer electronics and information technology applications. Membership in the DVD Forum is open to any company or organization involved in DVD research, development, or manufacturing; software firms and other DVD users interested in developing the format are also encouraged to join. Forum members can support other formats in addition to DVD.

Function

The DVD Forum is responsible for the official DVD format specification. The group handles licensing of the DVD format and logo through the DVD Format and Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC), which also publishes the official specifications in book form. Reference materials and newsletters are published for DVD Forum members.

Structure

The DVD Forum is governed by an elected Steering Committee. It has a Chair Company, and three Vice-Chair Companies: one from each of the consumer electronics, information technology, and content industries. The Chair and Vice-Chair Companies are elected for two-year terms.

In addition to the Steering Committee, the DVD Forum has the following committees:

• Technical Coordination Group - to coordinate activities of the Working Groups and submit technical proposals to the Steering Committee
• a number of Working Groups - to work on various aspects of the DVD format.
• Promotion & Communication Committee - to promote the exchange of information among participants
• Verification Policy Committee - to maintain compliance of DVD products with the DVD Formats adopted by the DVD Forum
• Format/Logo Advisory Group - to advise the Steering Committee on matters relating to names and logos and the licensing of DVD Formats and DVD logos

Founding members

Ten companies founded the organization:

• Hitachi, Ltd.
• Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
• Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Pioneer Electronic Corporation
• Royal Philips Electronics N.V.
• Sony Corporation
• Thomson
• Time Warner Inc.
• Toshiba Corporation
• Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC)

In 2003, the DVD Forum had 208 members. At present, there are 195 registered members.^[1]

See also

• DVD
• Blu-ray Disc
• HD DVD
• DVD+RW Alliance

References

• DVD Forum's Mission
• DVD Forum's Charter

External links

• DVD Forum

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